fearghas

He knew that he shouldn't move any closer. That the Lagoon - and it's residents - were entirely off limits to him after the last interaction with Rade, and yet the scream that ripples through the Crossing is one somehow familiar. It draws him in, and he is helpless to ignore it, even though his skin ripples with unease as he slinks beyond the Common lands and into the Lagoon itself.

By luck or happenstance, he finds the source of the call and freezes in confusion, his hoof poised over the muck. Had he dreamt of rescuing her before? Surely, he hadn't imagined her fear and vulnerability on the trip, or the incredulous way she'd looked at him when he'd offered her her freedom. So how was she here again? Had she really run from him and straight back into the Lagoon's clutches?

Before he can puzzle into any other possible outcomes, his gaze rakes over the rest of the tableau. The way Tuari's skin clung to her ribs. The way her expression was twisted into something akin to horror or sorrow. The small damp bundle at her hooves - clearly belonging to the too-thin mare - and the way it was still wet with birth fluids. He froze for a moment - overtaken by an image of Seri's first moments and of the golden monster that had interrupted his precious moment.

Was he the monster interrupting hers?

But the pale mare was no love-stricken young mother, and did not look upon her daughter with the same adoration that Ally had looked upon Seri. Something darker and nameless surrounded this situation, something he could not understand but empathized with all the same.

He edged closer, shrinking his body as if to make himself smaller and less threatening as he edged closer. "Tuari?" He asked, still confused as to why she was here. He could put the pieces together well enough - the clearly unwanted child at her feet told him well enough that yet another cruel Lagoonie had stolen the virtue of yet another sweet mare - but not who or why. He had hoped that in giving Tuari her freedom so many months ago that she would pick somewhere safe to flee too. Somewhere well away from the monsters of the Lagoon. Maybe they had pursued her after the Savanna?

"Is everything alright?" He asked gently, his dark ears turned back and head lowered in supplication. He had no enlightenment to offer her. No words of motherly advice or encouragement. But he couldn't just walk away from this, even if it brought the rest of the Lagoon down upon him.

stallion . 5 years . 16.1 hands . smoky black blanket . loveinspired . credit